Elevator.



ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1905. RENEWED DBO. 9, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M m d Wfi J M M a J Wm w S B N n W BY m g ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

0. D. SEEBERGER.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1905. RENEWED DEG. 9,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR CHARLES D. SEEBERGER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

ELEVATOR.

Application-filed November 6, 1905,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. SEEBER- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county ofWestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators,

' of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

1 the device taken at the line This invention relates to conveyers and particularly to that class of conveyers known as traveling Stairways and employed for transporting passengers or freight between different floors or levels.

The invention consists of the organizations and arrangements of parts hereinafter particularly described; and the objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from such description.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the traveling stairway, also illustrating the drive therefor; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view; Fig. 4 is an end view of one of the step units; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same showing one end of the step; Fig-6 is a sectional 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fragment of the traveling stairway showing the connecting linkage; Fig. 8 is a view in age shown in Fig. 7; and Figs. 9 and 10 are views in side elevation of the male and female links, respectively.

' In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a stairway adapted to be reversible, that is to say, to be driven in either direction so as to transport from an upper to a lower landing or leve or vice versa. The steps 20, which may be of any suitable character, such as that hereinafter described, and which are designed to be connected together to veyer, are in step-like formation on the incline and at the upper and lower-landings or levels 21. and 22, respectively, extend with their tread surfaces in the same horizontal plane to provide landing portions23 and 24.

In the present arrangement, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a shunt is located at each end of the stairway but directed to the opposite side from that at the other end. To this end the balustrade 25 at one side of the conveyor terminates at its lower end at substantially the bottom of the incline, while its upper end,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 285,958. Renewed December 9, 1907. Serial No. 405,782.

view on one side of.

side elevation of the link-' form an endless con- Patented Se t. s, 1908.

I from about the top of the-incline, extends diagonally across the upper landing portion 23 of the steps, as at 26, to provide a shunt to direct the passengers from the stairway on to the upper level or landing in ascending. The balustrade27 atthe opposite side of the conveyer terminates at its upper end at substan tially the top of the incline while at its lower end it crosses, as at 28, the lower landing and acts to form an exit shunt for the stairway when the'latter is employed for transporting passengers from the upper to the lower landing. By reason of this arrangement an exit shunt is provided at each end of the stairway whether it be used for ascending or descending, but such shunts are directed towards opposite sides. Suitable traveling handrails (not shown) may be employed and adapted to travel on the incline and shunts. I 7

Associated with the conveyer or stairway is,a suitable driving motor 29, which in the present embodiment of the invention is located at the side of the lower end of the conveyer and below the floor 30, shown in sec-' The motor is sup orted from tion in Fig. 1.

as the gir ers 31, from the floor framing, such which depend suitable platform or base 33. The motor 29 as well as the transmission gear case 34, through which motion is transmitted from the motor 29 to the drive shaft 35, rests on the platform 33. The motor and gear case are provided with a bed 36 which is preferably of pan-like form and ads. ted to catch and into which drains all oil rip ing from the motor, gear case, etc., The s aft is provided with suitable drivers, such as the pinions 37, for transmitting motion to the stairway.

In order to maintain the motor in a level osition, the bed 36 is provided. with means or adjusting the same towards or away from the platform 33. To this end the bed is I drilled and tapped for threaded supporting feet, such'as t imbles 38, Fig. 3, each of which is provided with a head 39 of such,

shape as to receive a suitable wrench, and bears at its lower end on the platform 33. By turning thethimbles 38 the clearance between the bed plate and platform may be varied to level the bed on its su portingplatform. Each thimble may be iocked in adjusted position by a headed bolt 40 passin through the thimble and the platform 33 and receiving a securing nut 41, which clamps the hangers 32 carrying a the balustrades along -thimble against the present instance, inner and outer tracks 43 and 44, the outer track on the incline, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 4, being above the inner track. At the upper and lower landings the tracks are at the same level, as shown in Fig. 6. By reason of this arrangement of tracks, the steps, in the form in which they are herein embodied, are maintained with their tread surfaces horizontal and in step-like formation on the incline and in the same horizontal plane at the landings.

Each step unit comprises a frame, 45, and a wheel base consisting, in the present embodiment of the invention, of end yokes 46, such yokes preferably being integral with the frame and connected'thereto by, a web or step extension 47 so as to provide aone iece step structure; The web 47 may be ho low, as shown in Fig. 6, and is located below the to of the step frame so as to clear the curtaln 48 at the bottom of the balustrade and which extends below the top of the step. The front wheel 49, looking up the stairway, which is adapted to the inner track 43 may be mounted on the step in any suitable manner. In the present instance the step is provided with an axlebar 50 passing through the ends of the step frame and the attached end of the yoke-46, as shown in Fig. 6, and each wheel 49 is mounted on the end of the axle bar projecting'beyond the yoke. The axle bar need not extend inwardlybeyond the end'of the step frame, but preferably in order to provide a stronger structure it is continu-' ous.

The axle bar is located, in the construction illustrated, under the front side and slightly back of the front nosing of the step frame, and the yoke arm extends rearwardly beyond the step riser or back of the rear nosing and is provide at its free end with a suitable bearing or stub axle 51 on which is pivoted the rear wheel 52 which is adapted to the outer track 44. By. locating the axle bar at the front of the step frame and extending the yokes beyond the step riser the entire weight of the assenger is between the wheels 49 and 52 so t at any tendency ofthe step to tilt is avoided, and a wide wheel base is rovided thereby insuring greater stability of the step on the tracks. As shown in Fig. 5, the free .end of the yoke arm 46 is bent outwardl so as to cross the inner track to adapt the w eel carried thereby to the outer track.

The steps are connected together, to form an endless conveyer, by links 53 and 54, and these links, which are preferably in the form of male and female links, pivotally connect the axle bars 50. For this ur ose each end of each male link 53is rovide with a sleeve 55 extending outwardy therefrom and pivoted on the associated axle bar between the end of the ste frame and the yoke, as shown in Fig. 6, and the female links 54 have end collars 56 which pivot on the sleeves of the male links. The links are in the form of rack-bars and in the present instance each male link has its last tooth at each end under the pivot center or axle to which it is connected, while the female links have at each end a space under the pivot centers, as shown respectively'in Figs. 9 and 10. By placing the teeth on the male links under the pivot centers I get the benefit of the strength of the stronger section of the male links, as the section of the female links is only a ring or collar at this point and is therefore relatively weaker than the male. The racklinks are engaged by the driving pinions 37 to I transmit motion to the stairway, and such 90 pinions are wide enough, as shown in Fig. 6, to engage the links in their staggered relation.

In rack-bar linkage the transmission pinions exert a lifting action on the links and as the end or last tooth of each link leaves the pinion it exerts a tendency to tilt such link upwardly about its pivot and cause the other end of the link to rise. By omitting the end teeth in the line of the pivot of the female links, the tilting of such' links under the ac tion of the pinion is minimized, owing to the fact that no tooth is under the pivot center and the leverage of the pinion is reduced.

In order to counteract and entirely elimi- 1 05 nate the tilting and lifting of the links I provide an upthrust device in association with the steps and so related to each pinion asto oppose the tilting andlifting action of the latter. In the present instance the u thrusts are arranged to 006 erate with t e ste structure. To this en and as shown in igs. 4, 5 and 6, Iemploy the upper surface of the web or step extension 47 for cooperating with the upthrust, and this surface, where the driving pinions are located at the incline, is at the same inclination as the tracks. This .surface cooperates with a suitable upthrust which consists in the present instance of a track or wear plate57 secured .to the under face of the curtain 48, .and parallel with the line of movement of the steps, as shown in Fig. 6. The track 57 is located over the pinion 37 and extends to either side thereof substantially the distance between link centers according to the direction of movement, so as to be engaged by the. extensions 47 of the steps as they pass thereunder, thereby preventing rising or tilting of the links under the action of the pinions. It

is to be understood that this construction exists at each end of the steps.

In order to distribute the wear due to the links, alink having its two end teeth under its pivot centers, in the present instance a male link (Fig. 9) is paired with, that is arranged opposite, (as shown in Fig. 7) a fe male link, (Fig. 10) which has a space at each end under its pivot centers. Another purpose is to minimize the danger of possible reakage of the end tooth on both male links at the same time. For example, in Fig. 7 the male link 53 on the right hand side would have its last tooth ushed up by the drive while the last male ink 53 on theleft hand side would have its end tooth pulled up. In other situations, as when passing under the drive (pinion on the return, this would be reverse and by utilizing the alternate arrangement of links shown I obtain the maximum of safety. v

Assumin the stairway to move in the di rection of t e arrow, Fig. 7, when the pinion engages the last tooth on the leading link 53, exerting a tendency to tilt the same, the op posite female link 54 presents. a space under the axle, so that the tilting action or tend ency occurs on that -side, and as the next pair of links are engaged by the pinions the tilting tendency is shifted to the op osite side by reason of the fact that the re ative positions of the male and female links have een reversed, the male link now being upon the other side'of the step. By the arrangement shown the tilting action is shifted to the sides of the steps in alternation so that wear is distributed between the two plates'57. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the step frame 1 is provided with. a recess at itstop, which reces's is formed in the resent instance by the step border 58 and a edge or flange 59 which extends inwardly from the walls of the step I screw threaded openings 60, and the tread frame. These flanges are provided wi 61, the up er face of which is flush with the border an which may be made of any suitable material, is'provided with screw openings through which pass screws 62 entering the ledge openings 'to secure the tread in place. The ledges may be formed integral with the step frame and then tap ed for the step securing screws. This wor may be done so accurately that no difiiculty is experienced in making the screw holes in the tread register with tapped holes in the ledges of the step frame, thereby obviating the em ployment of separate strips to be secured to the step frame.

Having described my invention what I claim as new 'anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A reversible conveyer having a shunt at each end, such shunts leading to opposite sides of the. conveyer.

2. A conveyer conslsting of an inclined. run

' veyer, a driving motor therefor,

step frame.

and a horizontal landing portion at each end,

and a shunt for each landing portion, such shunts leading to. opposite sides of the con-' veyer.

3. A conveyer consisting of an inclined run and a horizontal landing portion at each end, and a balustrade at each side of the incline and crossing one of the landings to provide a shunt therefor, such shunts leading to opposite sides of the conveyer.

4. In a device of the class described, a conveyer extending between different floors or levels, and a drive therefor, such as a motor,

located at the side of the conveyer and supported under and by the floor framing.

' 5. In a device of the class described, a conveyer extending between different floors or levels, a drivin motor located under the floor at one leve and supported by the floor framing of such level, and a trap door closed opening in the floor over the motor permitting of access to the motor.

6. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, driving mechanism therefor, such as a motor, a platform, and adjustable supports for the motor and resting on the platform for leveling the motor. I I

7. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, driving mechanism therefor, such as a motor, a bed for the motor, a platform, and supports in threaded engagement with the motor bed and resting on the platform for leveling the motor.

8. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, a driving motor therefor having a bed, a platform, thimbles in threaded engagement with the bed and resting on the platform for leveling the motor, bolts passing through the thimbles and platform, and nuts on the bolts to clamp the thimbles in adjusted position.

9. In a device of the class described, a cona bed for the motor adapted to catch oil, a su port for the bed, and means to level the be on the support.

10. In a device of the class described, a

conveyer, a driving motor therefor, a gear case, a bed under the motor and case, a support for the bed, and means to level the bed on the support.

11. In a device of the class described, a step yoke having a single arm. 12. A step construction for traveling stair ways supported at a point near the front nosing and at a point back of the rear nosing.

13. A step construction for traveling stairways supported back of the front nosing and back-of the rear nosing.

14, In a device of the class described, a one-piece step and wheel-base.

15. A step construction for traveling stairways having a wheel-base integral with the 16. In a device of the class described, a

&

, step unit consisting of a step having a wheelcarrying arm integral therewith.

19. In a device of the class described, a step unit consisting of a step and integral wheel-carrying yokes.

20. In a device of the class described, a

step unit consisting of a frame and a wheelcarrying yoke integral therewith and connected thereto at one end by a web.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with inner and outer tracks, of

- a series of connected step units each consisting of a step frame and a wheel-carrying yoke, the latter being integral therewith and connected thereto at one end by a web and having its free end extending beyond the step nosing and crossing the inner track to ,adap: the wheel carried thereby to the outer trac J 22. In a device of the class described, a

I step, a wheel, a wheel-carryin arm fixed .to

the step at one side and exten ing at its free end beyond the other side of the step, asecond wheel being journaled on the free end of the arm.

23. In a device of the class described, the

" combination with inner and outer tracks, of a connected series of steps each of which is provided with a wheel-carryingaxle at its front, and an arm fixed to the step and through which the axle passes and extending beyond the step riser and having a wheel at its free end adapted to the outer track.

24. In a device of the class described,'the combination with inner and outer tracks forming a way, of a series of steps, an axle bar located adiacent one side ofeach step and having a wheel adapted to the inner track,- an

arm fixed to the step and extending in the directionof the other side of the step, a wheel on the free end of the arm, the arm crossing the inner track to adapt the wheel to the outer track, links connecting the axle bars, and means to. move the steps on the way.

' 25. In a device of the class described, the combination with inner and outer tracks forming away, of a series of steps, a wheelcarrying yoke integral with eachstep and connected at one end to and spaced therefrom by a web, an axle bar passing through the step at the side oppositet-he step riser, a

, .wheehon the end of the axle bar adapted to the inner track, the free end of the yoke being extended beyond the step riser and crossing the inner track, a wheel on the free end of the yoke adapted to the outer track, and means to move the steps on the way.

I 26: In a device of the class described, steps each having an axle bar provided with a wheel, a yoke carrying the other wheel, links connecting the axles between the ste frame and the yoke, a web connecting t e step frame and yoke and located above the axle bar to clear the links, and means to move the ste s.

In a device of the class described, steps each having a wheel carrying yoke spaced fromthe step frame and connected to the latter by anintegral web, an axle on each end of the yoke, wheels on the. axles, the axleof one wheel passing through the yoke and step frame, links pivoted on the latter axle between the yoke and step frame and means to move the steps.

28. In a device of the class described, a ste frame provided with a recess in its to an provided with integral ledges, a 'trea seatedin the recess on the ledges, and means for securing the tread in place.

29. In a device of the class described, a step frame provided-with a recess in its top an( provided with integral ledges having screw openings, a tread seated in the recess and provided with screws engaging the openlngs.

30. In a device of the class described, a step frame having a recess in its top provid ing a border and having integral ledges provided with ta ped holes, and a tread seated in the recess having its upper surface flush with the border and provided with screw holes registering with the ledge holes, and screws entering the holes to secure the tread.

31. vIn a device of the class described, a

operate to counteract the lifting action 'oft e pinions.

32. In a device of the class described, the combination with a way having an inclined and a horizontal portion, steps adapted to 1 10 the way and provided with wheel-carrying yokes, links connecting the steps, pinions engaging the links at the incline, a track over each pinion and with which the wheel-carr ing yokes cooperate to prevent tilting of t ev links under the action of the piflions.

33. In-adevice ofthre class described, a

series of steps connected by rack-links and-I.

havin extensions drivin inions en a the ragzk-links, and an up tl frust track ai s i ciated with each pinion parallel with the line of movement of the links and cooperating with the extensions to counteract the tilting action of the pinions.

34. In a device of the class described, a. series of steps connected by racklinks, a driving pinion engaging'the rack-links, wheelcarrying yokes on the steps, land an upthrust track associated with each pinion and 006 erating with the. step yokes to counteract t e tilting of each link as the end tooth of the latter is engaged by the pinion.

35. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a way having angularly disposed portions, a series of link-connected steps having 'yokes provided with wheels adapted to the way, pinions engagingthe links, and a track cooperating with the surface of each yoke for counteracting the tilting of the links under the action of the pin ions, such surfaces being parallel with the said track. p

36. In a device of the class described, the combination with a way having angularly disposed portions, a series of link-connected steps adapted to the way, a inion engaging the links, a wheel-carrying yo e for the ste s, and a track cooperating with the yokes fer counteracting the tilting of the links under the action of the pinion, the yoke having a bearing surface parallel with the track.

37. In a device of the class described, a series of connected steps, driving means therefor, and an u thrust, consisting of the step curtain, to resist the lifting and tilting action of the driving means.

38. In a device of series of link-connected steps, a driving pinion engaging the links, and an upthrust to counteract the lifting and tilting action of the pinion and consisting of a curtain extending elow the top of and engaged by the step. structure.

- 39. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, rack-links connecting the steps,

.1 a pinion engaging the links, and a curtain ex curtain extending tending below the top of the steps and having a track engaged by the step structure to counteract the tilting and lifting action of the pinion.

40. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, rack-links connecting the steps, a pinion engaging the links to drive the ste s, a wheel-carrying yoke for the steps, an 2. below the'top of the steps and having a wear plate engaged by the yokev to avoid tilting and lifting of the links under the action of the pinion.

'41-, In a device of the class described, a seriesof steps, driving pinions, therefor, and connectin links provided at each end with a s ace un er the pivot centers to minimize tllting of the links under the action of. the pinion.

42. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, and a chain of links pivotally connecting the steps, each alternate link having a space under its pivot centers, and a pinion engaging the links to drive the steps.

' 43. In a device of the class described,- a series of steps, and a chain of. links pivotally connecting the ends of the steps, each alterthe class described, a

- male rack-links,

its pivot cenlink having a and means to nate link having a space under ters and being paired with a tooth under its pivot centers, drive the links.

44. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, links connecting the steps and arranged in opposite pairs, .one of such pair having spaces under its pivot centers while the other has teeth under its pivot centers, and means to drive the links.

45. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, and links connecting the steps and arranged in opposite pairs, one of such pair having a space in the line of each pivot center and the other a tooth in the line of such pivot center, the pairs alternating with each succeeding step, and means to drive the links.

46. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, links connecting alternate steps, every alternate link having a tooth under each pivot center and being paired with a link having a space under each pivot center, and means to drive the links. e

47. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, connections at each end of the steps consisting of alternating male and female links, each male link having a tooth under each pivot center and being paired with a female link having a space under each pivot center, and pinions engaging the links to drive the steps.

48. In a device of the class described, a series of steps, links pivotally connecting the steps at both sides, each alternate link on each side having a tooth under its pivot center, and driving pinions engaging the links to push and pull the teeth of alternate links on alternate sides of the ste s.

49. In a device of the (Sass-described, a series of steps, connections at the ends of the steps consisting of alternatin male and feeach male ink having a tooth under each pivot center and being paired with a female link having a space under its pivot'centers, pinions engaging the links, and an upthrust track for reventing lifting and tilting of the links un er the action of the inions. Q i

50. In a evice of the class described, a series of steps each of which is provided with an axle bar and wheel-carrying yokes, racklinks pivotally connecting the axle bars at each end of the steps, provided with teeth in ars connected thereby links having a space in the line of the axle bars, each of. the former links being paired with one of the latter links, pinions engaging the links to drive the steps, and upthrust tracks cooperatingwith the step structure at each end to overcome the tilting and lifting tendency of the pinions.

51, In a device of the line of the axle l l l alternate links beingthe class described, a seand the alternatingfllzo ries bf steps, links connecting the steps, pini moved in either direction, and a shunt at ions engaging the links, op osite upthrust each end thereof. 10 traeks,and means to cause t e upthrusts to In testimony whereof I aflix my signature alternately oppose the tilting action of the i in presence of two Witnesses. 5 links. CHARLES D. SEEBERGER. 52. An inclined moving stairway having a Witnesses: shunt at each end. W. H. BRADY,

53. An inclined stairway adapted to he J. McRoBERTs. 

